Tunisian Salafi Islamists riot, clash with police

May 26, 2012|Reuters

TUNIS, May 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Salafi Islamistsattacked bars and shops and clashed with security forces in aTunisian town on Saturday in the latest incident to raisereligious tensions in the home of the Arab Spring uprisings.

Police and witnesses in the northwestern town of Jendoubasaid hundreds of Salafis - followers of a puritanicalinterpretation of Islam - began rioting to protest the arrest offour men in connection with previous attacks on alcohol vendors.

Police responded with tear gas, breaking up the crowd, butclashes had yet to die down, witnesses and police said.

"So hundreds of Salafis attacked the security base, peltingit with rocks and petrol bombs before they were dispersed bytear gas. They also set fire to a police station and attackedthree shops in the town ... they are now in the centre of townand are being dealt with."

The clashes come a week after Salafis fought with alcoholvendors in the central town of Sidi Bouzid, prompting thejustice minister to promise they would be punished.

Many Salafi Islamists were in jail or underground before the2011 uprising that ousted secular strongman Zine al-Abidine BenAli. But they have since become more assertive.

While Islamists did not play a major role in the revolt, thestruggle over the role of religion in government and society hassince emerged as the most divisive issue in Tunisian politics.